Stand-alone hot-preparation device for convenience food products, particularly instant hot beverage maker

Abstract: a heat exchanger unit that is heatable by the heat source, with the aid of which the preparation liquid is transportable under evaporation from the supply container via a length of tubing to the preparation chamber under activation of the food product reservoir. an exothermic-reaction-based heat source that can be activated when needed, and a flow heater device comprising a preparation chamber for the food product to be prepared, and a supply container filled with a preparation liquid, particularly water, a reservoir of the food product to be prepared, A stand-alone hot-preparation device for convenience food products, particularly instant beverage maker, includes (end of abstract)

Stand-alone hot-preparation device for convenience food products, particularly instant hot beverage maker description/claims

Brief Patent Description

Full Patent Description

Patent Application Claims

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a stand-alone hot-preparation device for convenience food products, particularly instant hot beverage maker.

2. Background Art

Regarding the background of the invention it can be stated that changed consumer habits have led to a strong trend over the past few years toward fast, ready-to-eat food products and ready-to-drink beverages. For example, an increasing number of ready-made meals are being offered that, for example, only need to be heated with the aid of a microwave oven, or prepared by adding hot water. Meals of the latter type include, for example, instant soups in foil-sealed single serve cups.

In connection with hot drinks, such as coffee or tea, a strong increase in consumption away from home has become noticeable over the past few years as well. This increase has been particularly drastic in the sale of so-called “one-cup servings,” which are sold primarily based on instant coffee in a wide variety of flavors, such as espresso or café´ crema. The sales channels are quite varied, such as for example single-cup vending machines in public buildings, so-called coffee shops, or—analogous to the above-mentioned instant soups—single-portion packages of types of instant coffee to which hot water needs to be added.

All of the above-discussed packaging formats of hot-consumable convenience foods are not “stand-alone” in the sense that after purchasing a single serve package that is ready-made for final preparation, it would be possible to prepare it independently of a hot water source. The single servings of coffee, for example, which are generally packaged in pouches, require a cup and hot water that needs to be added.

It is true that, in principle, stand-alone heat devices are known from the prior art for ready-to-serve meals, which use a heat source based on exothermic reactions that can be activated when needed. WO 94/11682 A1, WO 01/91621 A1, or WO 2006/009 878 A2 may be mentioned as examples. However, these printed publications each disclose heating devices for food products in which merely a heat transfer takes place from the heat source to the food product. A genuine preparation, for example in the sense of brewing a hot instant beverage or preparing instant soup by adding hot water is not provided for in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from the described problems of the prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing a stand-alone hot-preparation device for convenience food products, with the aid of which a hot food product or a hot beverage can be prepared independently of any external supply with hot water for example.

This object is met with by the present invention, according to which there are provided:

- a reservoir of the food product to be prepared,
- a supply container filled with a preparation liquid, particularly water,
- a preparation chamber for the food product to be prepared, and
- a flow heater device, comprising
  - an exothermic-reaction-based heat source that can be activated when needed, and
  - a heat exchanger unit that is heatable by the heat source, with the aid of which the preparation liquid is transportable under evaporation from the supply container via a length of tubing to the preparation chamber under activation of the food product reservoir.